Football Duke point guard Paulus works out for Packers

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Greg Paulus, who chose to be a point guard instead of a quarterback in college, last week had a workout for the Green Bay Packers.

Paulus, who started 95 games at Duke before his role was drastically reduced his senior season, worked out in front of Packers representatives in Durham, N.C., Duke spokesman Art Chase said.

Chase said that Paulus threw to receiver Eron Riley during the session in advance of the draft, which is April 25-26.

The Wisconsin State Journal and ProFootballTalk.com first reported the story.

Though Paulus, from Syracuse, N.Y., opted for the Blue Devils as a basketball player, he is not without some serious football credentials. He was offered a football scholarship by Notre Dame as well as the University of Miami, and was a former Gatorade football player of the year at Christian Brothers Academy.

Paulus, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, was a four-time all-state football player; a starter in the U.S. Army All-American game; and set six state passing records. Christian Brothers was 42-3 during his time there, and he had 11,763 career passing yards and 152 touchdown passes in 45 games.

He is the only one among his male siblings to take the basketball route. Each of his five brothers played Division I-A football; Mike Paulus is currently a quarterback at North Carolina.

Paulus averaged 9.9 points and 4.1 assists as a three-year starter for the Blue Devils. But coach Mike Krzyzewski shuffled his lineup and Paulus, with a history of injuries, was replaced by Nolan Smith at the point. Paulus played just 16.1 minutes a game this season, averaging 4.9 points and 1.3 assists.

He earned widespread praise, however, for his conduct and demeanor after losing the starting job, giving guidance to the younger players and never showing outward disgruntlement.

He also expressed no regret about choosing basketball over football, during an interview in January with USA Today.

"I wanted to play point guard, and I got a chance to do that and to play for Duke and Coach K," Paulus told USA Today. "I wouldn't change a thing."
 
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